Newt and Health Care

Martha Boudreau, Robin Carle and the folks at Fleishman-Hillard put together a dinner last night for a few health care-minded folks and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Newt is the reason the GOP took control of the Congress in l994, it’s just that simple. Though the “Contract with America” has been reviled by the revisionists in the time since, the truth is that it drew a bright line between what his side was “for” and what the other side was “for” and people made their choices — in droves — for his side. He is a big thinker, a very bright guy, and just fun and thought-provoking. He was no different last night.

Newt has turned his focus to health care and has started the Center for Health Transformation. He is a zealot on health savings accounts (HSA’s) and can cite chapter and verse the companies that have reduced their costs dramatically as a result of their move to HSA’s. The NAM was behind the push for HSA’s and many manufacturers have embraced them, with more undoubtedly to come. Here is a copy of the slides he handed out: Newt’s Slides.

Also on his website is a host of information and thoughts about “Designing a 21st Century Health and Health Care System”. Newt is a firm believer in the power of the market and wants to turn the market loose on health care, including a fuller and freer information flow for consumers. He will be the keynote speaker at a conference we are co-sponsoring on consumer directed health care here in Washington, Nov. 28- December 1. Click here to register.